• 2007 MX-5 has custom Aston Martin-inspired bodywork by Simpson Design.
  • Zagato-style updates include wire wheels, faired-in lights, and Aston badges.
  • It keeps the Miata’s 166 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder and an automatic gearbox.

If Miata is always the answer, then this customized MX-5 must be answering a secondary question. Perhaps it’s just as simple as ‘What if the MX-5 looked like an Aston Martin? The result is a surprisingly detailed combination of mods that come together to form something genuinely unique. Whether that’s a good thing is up to you to decide, but only after you’ve pored over some of the work done here.

Read: These Miatas Are Roaring Like Jaguars And They’re Coming To America

Built by Simpson Design out of Washington State, the chassis and drivetrain here are from a 2007 Mazda MX-5. The factory door skins remain, but nearly everything else has been reshaped. There’s a long hood with a scoop, vented front fenders, a wide mesh grille, faired-in headlights with clear covers, and even Lancia Flavia-sourced door handles.

This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do

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Throw in Aston Martin badging (thank goodness this isn’t related to VW), and suddenly this former Japanese roadster looks like it should be parked outside a vineyard in Tuscany instead of your local autocross. However, it could probably turn heads equally at either location. Part of that panache is an attractive light green paint color, a matching removable hardtop, and genuine 16-inch knock-off wire wheels.

Inside, things get even more committed. Beige vinyl bucket seats, woodgrain trim across the dash and center console, and a wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel with an Aston Martin horn button make the cabin feel far removed from stock Miata territory. Thankfully, the factory air conditioning and AM/FM/CD stereo survived the transformation. That’s not all that stuck around either.

This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do

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As noted at the outset, this Mazda in an Aston Martin suit retains its original powertrain. Power comes from Mazda’s 2.0-liter MZR inline-four producing 166 hp (124 kW) and 140 lb-ft (190 Nm), paired here with a six-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels. That may disappoint purists hoping for a manual, but it probably fits the relaxed GT character this build is chasing.

With just 26,000 miles on the odometer and a clean Carfax, bidding has already reached $23,500 over at BaT with time still left on the clock. That’s serious money for an NC Miata, but then again, this isn’t really being sold as one. Is it worth that cash? Should it have a mightier engine? Let us know in the comments below!

This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do
This Miata Looks More Like An Aston Martin Than Some Real Aston Martins Do

Bring a Trailer